FMAMS year 2 Undergraduate

The Melton Mini-School’s centre at the Hebrew University has developed a core curriculum, which is the cornerstone of the program worldwide. The curriculum comprises four courses PURPOSES, RHYTHMS, DRAMAS, ETHICS, studied over two years and all the courses are based on a study of Jewish texts.
The curriculum is organised thematically and a great deal of work has been done to make the content appropriate for Australian Jewish learners.

The four modules of the program for essential Jewish literacy has been designed to be tackled over two years and students enrol one year at a time (comprising two 15 week semesters a year.)
Year One: Purposes and Rhythms; Year Two: Dramas and Ethics

Ethics of Jewish Living – Codes for interpersonal relationships including friendship, marriage, parenting and business, as expounded in the principal Jewish sources. It could be called an introduction to the Jewish legal system. The course focuses on Talmudic debates and rabbinic texts to explore how our rabbis made decisions and how this applies to issues we grapple with today; issues like IVF, abortion or euthanasia.
The background study of the texts gives an insight into rabbinic thinking and an appreciation of their application in modern day contexts. No easy answers and many arguments are hallmarks of this course.

The Dramas of Jewish Living – tackles contemporary issues facing Jews, such as assimilation and antisemitism, viewed against the changing panorama of the Jewish past.How did Jews manage throughout history to survive anti-Semitism and persecution; how do they cope with assimilation over the ages; How did they retain their identity? The Melton course focuses not only on names and dates but rather the big picture and what these past events have to teach about today’s life. A broadbrush approach that attempts
to span the vast canvas of Jewish history from biblical times until today.